Unit 3 // AOS1 Textbook Definitions

Question 1

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 1

The brain and spinal cord

Question 2

Neural pathway

Answer 2

A route based on interconnected neurons that form a communication network within the brain and between the brain and other parts of the nervous system and body

Question 3

Spinal cord

Answer 3

A long, thin bundle of nerve tissues connecting the brain and rest of the body via the peripheral nervous system; initiates simple reflex responses independently of the brain; aka spinal reflex

Question 4

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 4

Entire network of nerves located outside the central nervous system; carries information to and from the central nervous system (via its somatic and autonomic sub-divisions)

Question 5

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

Answer 5

A sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body’s internal organs and glands, providing feedback to the brain about their activities

Question 6

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 6

A sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body’s internal organs and glands, providing feedback to the brain about their activities

Question 7

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 7

A sub-division of the autonomic nervous system; activates internal muscles, organs and glands to prepare for vigorous activity or to deal with a stressor, fear stimulus, threat or emergency

Question 8

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 8

A sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that calms or restores the body to its normal state of functioning after the need for sympathetic nervous system activation has passed

Question 9

Enteric nervous system (ENS)

Answer 9

A sub-division of the autonomic nervous system embedded within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and dedicated to its functioning

Question 10

Conscious response

Answer 10

A reaction to a sensory stimulus that involves awareness; usually voluntary, goal-directed and with some degree of control over it

Question 11

Unconscious response

Answer 11

A reaction to a sensory stimulus that does not involve awareness; involuntary, unintentional, autonomic and we cannot ordinarily control its occurrence

Question 12

Spinal reflex

Answer 12

An unconscious, involuntary response to certain stimuli, initiated within the spinal cord and controlled solely by neural circuits; also called reflex arc

Question 13

Synaptic gap

Answer 13

The tiny space between the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of a postsynaptic neuron; also called synaptic cleft

Question 14

Neural synapse

Answer 14

The site where communication typically occurs between adjacent neurons; also called neural junction or synapse

Question 15

Neurotransmitter

Answer 15

A chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, glands, or other tissue

Question 16

Excitatory effect

Answer 16

When a neurotransmitter stimulates or activates a postsynaptic neuron to perform its functions

Question 17

Inhibitory effect

Answer 17

When a neurotransmitter blocks or prevents a postsynaptic neuron from firing and therefore performing its functions

Question 18

Glutamate (Glu)

Answer 18

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, thereby enhancing information transmission by making postsynaptic neurons more likely to fire

Question 19

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

Answer 19

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, making postsynaptic neurons less likely to fire

Question 20

Neuromodulators

Answer 20

A neurotransmitter that can influence the effects of other neurotransmitters

Question 21

Dopamine

Answer 21

A neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with multiple functions depending on where it acts; functions include roles in coordinating movement, learning and behaviours that are rewarding

Question 22

Serotonin

Answer 22

A neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with multiple functions depending on where it acts; functions include emotional processing, mood, and sleep onset

Question 23

Synaptic plasticity

Answer 23

The ability of a synapse to change in response to experience

Question 24

Sprouting

Answer 24

The creation of new extensions on a neuron to allow it to make new connections with other neurons

Question 25

Rerouting

Answer 25

When new connections are made between neurons to create alternate neural pathways

Question 25

Pruning

Answer 25

The elimination of weak, ineffective or unused synapses (and therefore connections to other neurons); also called synaptic pruning

Question 26

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 26

The long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission due to repeated strong stimulation

Question 27

Long-term depression (LTD)

Answer 27

The long-lasting decrease in the strength of synaptic connections and transmission and neuronal response

Question 28

Stress

Answer 28

A psychobiological response produced by internal or external stressors

Question 29

Stressor

Answer 29

A stimulus that produces stress

Question 30

Internal stressor

Answer 30

A stressor that originates within the individual

Question 31

External stressor

Answer 31

A stressor which originates outside the individual from situations and events in the environment

Question 32

Acute stress

Answer 32

Stress that lasts for a relatively short time

Question 33

Chronic stress

Answer 33

Stress that continues for a prolonged period of time

Question 34

Fight-or-flight-or-freeze response

Answer 34

An involuntary, bodily response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness for fight (confront), flight (escape) or freeze (be silent and unseen)

Question 35

Gut-brain axis (GBA)

Answer 35

A bidirectional, multi-faced communication link between the central and enteric nervous systems

Question 36

General adaption syndrome (GAS)

Answer 36

A three-stage physiological response to stress involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion

Question 37

Alarm reaction

Answer 37

The first stage of the General Adaption Syndrome in which the body goes into a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (counter shock) following initial awareness of a stressor

Question 38

Shock

Answer 38

In the General Adaption Syndrome, the temporary state immediately following exposure to a stressor during the initial alarm reaction stage

Question 39

Counter shock

Answer 39

In the General Adaption Syndrome, rebound from the temporary state of shock during the initial alarm reaction stage

Question 40

Resistance stage

Answer 40

The second stage of the General Adaption Syndrome, when the body's resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal

Question 41

Exhaustion stage

Answer 41

The third stage of the General Adaption Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance

Question 42

Transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 42

Proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both an individual's appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it

Question 43

Primary appraisal

Answer 43

In the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluate of the significance of a potential stressor and whether anything is at stake in the encounter, resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful

Question 44

Secondary appraisal

Answer 44

In the Transaction Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluation of their ability to control or overcome a stressful situation

Question 45

Coping

Answer 45

In relation to stress management, attempting to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way

Question 46

Coping strategy

Answer 46

A specific method used to manage and reduce the stress produced by a stressor

Question 47

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 47

In relation to coping, when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

Question 48

Coping flexibility

Answer 48

The ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressors

Question 49

Approach coping strategies

Answer 49

An effort to cope with stress by confronting the stressor and dealing directly with it and its effects

Question 50

Avoidance coping strategies

Answer 50

An effort to cope with stress by evading the stressor and dealing indirectly with it and its effects